Automatic safety headlight



April 24, 1928. 1,667,366

A. W. WEIR ET AL AUTOMATIC SAFETY HEADLIGHT Filed June 10, 192'? 2. Sheefis-Sheet 1 Hg. 8 38 /26' INVENTORS 37 5/ z ALEXANDER vv. WEIR JACOB WE/NGARTEN I4 a WILLIAM 6-. EWITZER 11, 16 35 BY @fig/ 3 A TTORN Y April 24, 1928. 1,667,366

.v w. WEIR ET AL AUTOMATIC SAFETY HEADLIGHT Filed June 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/yn4 I I2 I6 {5 3 26 INVENTORS ALEXANDER W. WEIR JACOB WEING-ARTEN' WILLIAM G. SW/TZER Patented Apr. 24, 1928. r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER w. WEIR, or BRoNx, moon WEINGARTEN, or BROOKLYN, AND

WILLIAM G. swrrznn, or mnnanns, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY HEADLIGHT.

Application filed June 10, 1927. Serial No. 197,950.

. This invention relates to automatic safety headlamps and particularly those used in connection with railroad locomotives.

In the past many train delays and even wrecks have been caused due to the locomotive headlamps going out of order, due to burning out or breaking of the electric bulbs.

It is therefore the principal object of our invention to provide an arrangement in which an auxiliary bulb will be moved automatically, substantially into the focus or focal point of the lam reflector, on burning out or breaking o the filament in the main bulb, or the one nornrally positioned in the focus of the reflector. It is necessary that the auxiliary lamp bulb be brought into this focal position in order that the locomotive will have at once, what is termed in railroad nomenclature, as sufficient roadjpick 2 up conforming to the railroad rules laid down by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

We are aware that certain schemes have been proposed for moving an auxiliary light to the position occupied by the main light normally at the focal point of a reflector, and constituting art of a headlamp, but our invention is irected to asim ler and more improved form of. accomplis ing the principal object to'which our invention is directed.

Our invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, which are .to be taken as merely illustrative.

. Figure 1 is a plan view of the lamp bulb support ready for mounting within the headlamp reflector.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, showing the lamp bulb support with the bulbs in normal-position, and also showing a fragmentary part of the spider. carrying the bulb support.--

Figure 3 1s a view similar to Figure 2, but with the bulbs in what may be termed the emergency position.

Figure 4- is a view of the entire headlamp with a portion broken away, showing the bulbs and their support mounted within the reflector.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modified form of one of the details comprising the invention. A

Figure 6 is a further modified form of port.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the method of supplying electric current to the lamp bulbs.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a modified method of supplying electric current to the lamp bulbs and for introducin a time element in operation of the control circuits.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views: 1 is a lamp support carrying a plurality of sockets, two being shown. One of these sockets carries a bulb 2, which in the position shown in Figure 2 may be referred to as the main bulb, which is normally at the focal point of the reflector (not shown), 3 is an auxiliary bulb carried in any satisfactory manner, as by a bushing 4 carried on a shaft 5, which is supported between the arms 6 and 7 of a bracket, having a stem 8, which is adjustably carried by the spider 9 fastened to the collar 42; this adjustment being obtained by means of the focusing nuts 10 carried on the threaded stem 8 and engaging collar 42. The arm 6 has a downwardly projecting lug 11, which carries a stud 12, on the outer end of which is pivoted a lever having two parts 13 and 14, at an angle to each other. The part 13 carries a stud 15, with which is associated a spring tension member 16, which has an anchor on the end of the stud 12. The action of the spring 16 is to move the part 13 to the position shown in Figure 3.

A part 14 of the lever has a pin 17 which is adapted to move in a slot 18 of-a locking cam member 19, which is carried on the outer end of the shaft 5. The pawl 20 is provided for engaging the pin 17, after the bulbs and their support have been moved' to the position as shown in Figure 3. The tension spring 21 has one end connected to the arm 7 of the support bracket and the other end to the shaft 5, in order to give the shaft 5 a rotary movement, when the pin 17 is moved fi'om the engagement with the shoulder 22, adjacent one end of the slot 18. A pair of contact studs 23 and 24 are carried by the arm 6, but insulated therefrom.

The outer ends of the studs 23 and 24 are main bulb 2 is held atthe focal point of the reflector.

Current is supplied to the lamp bulb 1, in the manner as shown in Figure 7. The current passes through a relay 27, and an auxiliary contact 28, associated with the control lever. It will be noted in Figure 7 that the fusible member is connected across the,

terminals of the auxiliary bulb 3.

In operation 'should for any reason the filament of the bulb 2 become broken or be burned out, the relay 27 is de-energized and the contact 29 is established, which switches the current onto the bulb circuit 3, but since the fuse 25 is normally connected across the bulb 3, the application of current to this later circuit immediately heats up the fuse and destroys it, allowing the control lever part 13 to be released and under the action of the tension spring 16, the lever is moved downward to the position shown in Figure 3,

' carrying the pin 17 from under the shoulder 22 to the slot 18 to the' cam 19. The lamps together with their support 1 acting under the tension of the spring 21, will move or rotate to the position shown in Figure 3, whereby the bulb 3 is brou ht into the focal point of the reflector 30, and the pawl 20 will engage the pin 17, thereby holdin the auxiliary lamp in secure position, so t at it mm L not vibrate, light.

Upon'replacin the bulb 2 after the locomotive has comp eted its run the parts are re-set to the position shown in Figure 2.

For the purpose of clarity we have not shown the auxiliary contact 28, in association with Figures 1, 2 and3, but have shown this in Figure 6, as com osed of two contacts 31 and 32 engaged y a resilient contact member 33. The auxiliary contact 28 serves rimarily to open the main lamp circuit w ich is essential should the fuse link break from other causes than the assage of a heavy current therethrough." 'l he breaking of the fuse link will allow the lever to release the lamp support and it will shift, to

and give a disturbing beam of bring. the auxiliary lamp into the reflector focus, and if, the main lamp were still burning the beam of light from the headlight would be distorted, hence the introduction of the auxiliary contact 28. It should be noted here that the stud 12 and the pin 17 are set in a vertical plane or on. neutral centers. so

; the only strain on the fuse link is that prolink 25; also in Figure 6 we have shown a modified form of control lever, and locking cam. In this form a spring 34 acts to move the cam 19 when the same is released by the dog 35, which is associated with the part 13 of the control lever,-and this form of cam has two stops 36 and 37, which engage the stud 38 on rotation or-movement of the lamp support to the emergency position illustrated in Figure 3. The end 14 of the lever is provicled with a tooth 40 which engages the shoulder 41 on the cam thereb the socket support from upwar movement.

In Figure 8 We have shown a modified form of the method of applying current to the bulbs and the introduction of a time elementin connection with the blowing of the fuse link. On resetting the switch lever 13 and lamp support to its original position as shown in Figure 2, it will be seen that when the circuit .is closed, heavy current is at once supplied tothe fuse link, before the contact 29 of relay 27 opens, and when it does open due to this heavy short-circuit current considerable flash is produced at the contact 29, and it may also blow the fuse link before the circuit is opened. To overcome this condition, we have in Figure 8, introduced a relay 43 having a contact 44, for controlling the application of current to the fuse link 25. By reference to Figure 8 it will be seen that when the lever 13 is reset as previously described, current passes through the relay 27, the contact 28 and the bulb 2. Current is also supplied through the contact 29 to the relay 43, but these relays are so constructed and adjusted that before the contact 44 has time to close, the contact 29 is opened and this momentary short-circuit before referred to, is not placed across the fuselink 25 during the re-setting operation. However on burning out of the filament of the main bulb 2, the relay 27 is de-energized and the contact 29 is closed, thereby operating the relay 43 and bridging by means of the contact .44, the fuse 25 acgoss the line with the results as already described.

Figure 4 shows the reflectorwith the bulbs and the spider carrying the support bracket and other parts all mounted within the headlamp c-asin 39, but from what has been said it will be 0 vious that our invention is susceptible of many changes in the details without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a lamp of the class described, a refiector, a movable support associated with the reflector, a plurality of electric bulbs,

preventing 1 able use comprising part of said holdingpositioned bulb, after said the support so 'one is normally of the reflector, means for holding the su port in said normal position, part of sai means adapted to be destroyed either by current flowing therethrough or by'breakage, means under the control of the current passing throughthe bulb normally at the reflector focus, for passing current through said part to be associated with said holding means for initiating movement of said support to carry another of said bulbs, into substantially the position first occupied by .said first normall part is destroyer 2. In a .lamp of the classdescribed arcflector, a movable support associated with the reflector, a plurality of electric bulbs carried by the support so one is normally in the focus of thereflector, means for holding the su port insaid normal position, a breakcarried by in the focus means, a relay having its winding in series with the filament of the bulb normally at the reflector focus for controlling the flow of current through said fuse, and means associated with said holding means for initiatin movement of said support to carry anot er of said bulbs into substantially the position occupied by said first normally positioned bulb after said fuse has been broken.

3. In a lamp of the class described, a reflector, a movable support associated with the reflector, a plurality of electric bulbs carried by the support so one is normall in the focus of the reflector,'means for hol ing the sup on in said normal position, a device susceptl le to changes therein, produced by current flowing therethrough, means for switching current through sald device should the'filament of the bulb normall at the reflector focus become broken, an means associated .with said holding means for initiating movement of said support to carry another of said bulbs into substantially the position occupied by said first normally positioned bulb,'after said device has released the holdin means v 4. In a limp of the class described, a reflector, a movable su port associated with the reflector a plura 1ty of electric bulbs carried by the support so one is normall in the focus of the reflector, means forhol ing the support in said normal position ineluding a lever and a fusiblelink holding the leYer, means for short circuiting a source of current through the fusible link should the filament ofthe bulb at the reflector focus purpose described.

become injured so as to stop the normal passage of current therethrough whereby the fusible link is broken and the locking lever released substantially as and for the 5. In a lamp of the class described, a reflector, a movable support associated with reflector, a plurality of electric bulbs lever,

through, means for sen destroyed and means the support so the second *bulbs, a movable support for the carried by the support so one is normal] in the-focus of the reflector, means for hol ing the support in said normal position including a lever and a device engaging the said device being operated by the heat produced by the passage of current there ing current throu b said evice on failure of the bulb at t e reflector focus and means for moving another bulb to the reflector focus after the lever is released. 1 i

6. In a lamp of the class described, a reflector, a movable support associated with the reflector, a pair of electric .bulbs carried by the support within the reflector so one is normally at the reflector focus, a lever for holding said support from turning, a device responsive to heat'produced by current passing therethrough for restraining said lever, means for sending current throu 11 said device on failure of current through t e lam bulb at said reflector focus whereby the lever is released and means for turning bulb is brought into the focus of the reflector.

7. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination, a pluralit of lighting bulbs, a movable support for t e ing at least two positions and normally occupying one position, mechanical means for he ding said su port in the normal position, said mechanica means including a fusible link and electro-ma netic means in series with one of the bul s forpassing current through said link to fuse the same on failure of current throu h said one bulb, for the purpose described 8. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination, a plurality of li htiing u bs, having at least two positions and normally occupying one position, mechanical means for holding said support in the normal position, said mechanical means including a fusible link and means controlled by the current through said one bulb for passing a relatively heavy current through said link for the purpose described.

9. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination, a pair of incandescent bu bs, a movable support for thebulbs having at least two positions andnormally occupying one 1position, means for holding said support in t e normal position, said means including a lever and a fusible link attached to the lever to hold it in restrained position and means controlled by the current through at least one of saidbulbs for passing a .relatively heavy fusing current through said link for breaking the same and releasing the lever for the purpose described.

10. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination a pair of incandescent bulbs, a movable support for the bulbs having at least two positions and normally ocbulbs hav-' copying one position, means for holding said support in the normal position, said means including a lever and a fusible link having some portion of it attached to the lever to hold it in restrained position and also having at least some other portions connected across the terminals of one of the bulbs and means controlled by the current through the other of said bulbs for passing a relatively heavy fusing current through said link for breaking the same and releasing the lever for the purpose described.

11. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination a plurality of lighting bulbs, a movable support for the bulbs having at least two positions and normally occupying one position, mechanical means for holding said support in the normal position, said mechanical means including a fusible link having at least some portion of it connected across the terminals of one bulb,

means in series with another of said bulbs for switching the current to the terminals of said one bulb on cessation of current through the bulb in series with said means whereby said portion of the link is fused and the holding means released, means for moving the support to a second position and means for locking the support in said second position.

having in combination a plurality of lighting bulbs, a movable support for the bulbs having at leasttwo positions and normally occupying one position, mechanical means for holding said support in the normal position, said mechanical means including a fusible link having at least some portion of it connected across the terminals of one bulb means in series with another of said bulbs for switching the current to the terminals of said onebulb on cessation of current through the bulb in series with said means whereby said portion of the link is fused and the holding means released, a switch in circuit with said series means and controlled by a part of said holding means for opening the bulb circuit in serles with said means, should the fuse link break while the said bulb circuit is still closed.

13. In a locomotive headlight, a casing,

21 reflector within the casing, a spider across the reflector opening, a bracket carried by the spider, a bulb support rotatably carried by the bracket, a main and auxiliary incandescent bulb carried "by the support, so the main bulb is normally at the focal point of the reflector, a lever for controlling the movement of the support, a fusible link associated with said lever so as to normally hold it under restraint and in a position to maintain said support in the said normal position, said fusible link having some portion connected across the terminals pf the auxiliary bulb, means carried within the having in combination, a plurality of lighting bulbs, a movable support for the bulbs having at least two positions and normally occupying one position, a fuse link connected across one of said bulbs which is not normally at the focal point of the reflector, means for holding said support in normal position, said means including said fuse link, means for passing a heavy current through the fuse link, on breaking of the filament of the bulb at the reflector focus and while current is passing through said filament whereby the holding means is released and the bulb which has the fuse link connected across its terminals is brought to the focal point of the reflector and means for locking 3 the bulb support in this new position. 12. In an electric signalling apparatus- 15. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination a reflector, a pair of incandescent bulbs positioned within the reflector, a movable support for the bulbs having two positions and normally occupying one position whereby one of said bulbs is positioned at the focal point if the reflector, means for shifting the support so as to bring the second bulb to the focal point of the reflector, and a fuse link for controlling the shifting of the support and adapted to be destroyed by the passage of current therethrough, should the filament of the bulb normally at the focal point of the reflector,

become broken while current is passing therethrough. i

16. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination a reflector, a pair of incandescent bulbs positioned within the reflector, a movable support for the bulbs having two positions and normally occupying one position whereby one of said bulbs is positioned at the focal point of the reflector, means for shifting the support so as to bring the second bulb to the focal point of' the reflector, and a fuse link for controlling the shifting of the support and adapted to be destroyed by the passage of current therethrough, should the filament of the bulb normally at the focal point of the reflector, become broken while current is passing therethrough, a relay in the circuit of said bulb normally at the reflector focus and a second relay under control of the first relay for applying current to the fuse link.

17. .In an electric signalling apparatus haying in combination a reflector, a pair of incandescent bulbs positioned within the reflector, a movable support for the bulbs having two positions and normally occupying one position whereby one of said bulbs is positioned at the focal point of the reflector, means for shifting the support so as to bring the second bulb to the focal point of the reflector, and a fuse link for con trolling the shifting of the support and adapted to be destroyed by the passage of current therethrough, should the filament of the bulb normally at the focal point of the -reflector, become broken while current is passing therethrough, means for preventing blowing the fuselink while resetting the movable support to normal position comprising, a pair of relays, one in circuit with the bulb normally at the reflector focus, and the second relay controlled by a back contact on the first relay, said second relay having a front contact for closing a short circuit across the fuse link only when the back contact on the first relay remains closed.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

ALEXANDER W. WEIR. JACOB WEINGARTEN. WILLIAM G. SWITZER. 

